Sir John Everett Millais, P.R.A.

YEOMEN OF THE GUARD, ST JAMES' PALACE (RECTO), SKETCH OF TWO SEATED WOMEN (VERSO)

1829-1896

Sir John Everett Millais, P.R.A.

signed with monogram l.r.; dated and titled l.c. (beneath mount): Note – designed 19 Novr 1883/ “On Guard,” St James Palace/ Yeomen of the Guard; inscribed l.r.: 16 feet; inscribed u.l.: Dark; inscribed upper right: Lighter
pen and ink over pencil
20 by 29cm., 8 by 11½in.

Provenance:
Despite the date on the inscription, this drawing was probably made in 1875 and referenced by the artist's son; 'It was in 1875 that the idea of this work originated. Millais, having received a commission from a dealer to execute a very large picture of the Yeomen of the Guard searching the vaults beneath the two Houses previous to the opening of Parliament, made a preliminary visit to the Tower of London to see the "Beef Eaters" and study their costume. He was much struck with the splendid colour and tasteful design of the uniform, and thinking that under artificial light its pictorial strength would be lost, he abandoned his original idea, and decided to paint a single figure in all the glory of the open air.' (John Guille Millais, The Life and Letters of Sir John Everett Millais, 1899, 2 volumes, vol.II, p.79) The finished picture, a portrayal of Major Robert Montagu is titled The Yeoman of The Guard and was painted in 1876 (Tate).